Organized labor is devoting many of its resources into a fight against Amendment 1, the property tax question on the Jan. 29 ballot.

"We're not opposed to lower property taxes, but this is not the right property tax reform. It would cut fire, police, lots of local government services and after-school programs," said Deborah Dion, political director for the South Florida AFL-CIO.

At the Wednesday night meeting of the Miami-Dade School Board, United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz spoke out strongly against Amendment 1.

"Please vote no on Constitutional Revision Number 1," said Aronowitz. "There will be better plans coming."

Campaigning in Miami-Dade late Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Crist tried to allay fears about any adverse impact on school funding should Amendment 1 be approved.

State economists have predicted that public school funding would be cut by $1.5 billion over the next five years if voters approve the property tax amendment.

"Wait until you see my education budget proposal," Crist told Local 10's Michael Putney and other reporters.

Crist unveiled his budget Thursday in Tallahassee and it contains $1 billion more for Kindergarten through 12th grade schools in the next fiscal year, nearly $400 more per pupil, including $138 million to offset any loses from passage of Amendment 1.

Labor unions, however, said they'll continue to hold rallies across the state and will try to individually contact approximately 500,000 union members, urging them to vote "No" on Jan. 29.